Builder articles from January 2006

Builder archives from January 2006

Closing the loop: getting regular feedback from customers and potential buyers can be tough but rewarding.(Editorial)
January 1, 2006... OUR 2006 REALITY SHOW HOME FEATURED ON THE cover this month--with its kitchen island for multitasking, fully functioning home office, and nook for recharging cell phones--speaks to the power of customer feedback. That's something that every...

What is a builder?(B MAIL)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I AM A HOME BUILDER DOING ABOUT 50 infill homes per year in multiple-dwelling buildings of different sizes. Here in my area of Albuquerque, I am working with others to go further than just the house; we're trying to create a real neighborhood,...

Comforting words.(B MAIL)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... THANKS FOR your article on wintertime concrete pours ("Pour It On," November 2005, page 150). I am a small contractor looking to build my first spec home in the middle of winter. The article was well written and documented and helped to allay...

Calendar.(BOOK IT)(Calendar)
January 1, 2006... JANUARY 10 National Stormwater Summit, Orlando, Fla. The National Stormwater Summit--workshops created in response to the growing need for quality stormwater compliance training and straight talk from experts--stops in Orlando....

Post-hurricane industry aid.(BOOK IT)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Many industry businesses have been helping in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane season: * Through the American Rental Association Foundation's Rental Industry Relief Fund, grants totaling $190,000 were distributed to 20 rental equipment...

Scaling new heights: Dallas-based D.R. Horton is the first in the industry to close and sell more than 50,000 homes in a 12-month period.(RECORD BREAKER)
January 1, 2006... IT TOOK D.R. HORTON 27 YEARS TO GET ITS Annual closing rate up to 50,000 homes. But at the pace it's going, the nation's largest home builder would double its annual closings within the next five years. When the Dallas-based builder...

Pay up.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(developer fees )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Many California municipalities have made headlines in recent years for hiking developer fees sky high, but not Fresno: Its bargain-basement fees have held steady for decades. But a new plan, adopted by the Fresno City Council in September, will...

Texas tycoon, 1917-2005.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Ray Ellison Sr.)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2006... Ray Ellison Sr., the founder of what was once the largest home building company in Texas, died in October after suffering from Parkinson's disease. Ellison began building in San Antonio in 1949 and grew Ray Ellison Homes through the development...

Best practices.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)
January 1, 2006... The Homeownership Alliance, a coalition of 19 organizations, including the NAHB, released a report that offers an overview of the most effective strategies for delivering affordable housing. The report, "Affordable Homes: Best Practices for...

Private business.(BIG DEALS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Lumber and paper giant Georgia-Pacific Corp. (G-P) agreed in November to sell to conglomerate Koch Industries in a $21 billion deal that includes a cash payout of $48 a share; also, Koch will assume about $8 billion of G-P debt. The sale will...

Vertical integration.(Building Materials Buying Cooperative)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Four of Canada's leading modular home builders have formed a purchasing organization, the Building Materials Buying Cooperative (BMBC). What's intriguing about this is that one of BMBC's partners, Kent Homes, is a subsidiary of J.D. Irving, the...

Santa Fe's housing trail: stiff inclusionary zoning requirement may spread from the city to the county in the Santa Fe, N.M., region.(AFFORDABLE HOUSING)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... THE CITY OF SANTA FE HAS A new 30 percent affordability requirement for all new developments, an ordinance that at press time was under discussion in the county as well. The new city ordinance, which was passed last summer, requires all...

From the hip: tile industry writes new installation guidelines for tile roofs in Florida.(INSTALLATION CODES)
January 1, 2006... THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE HAS ADOPTED an extensive set of installation guidelines for hip and ridge tiles after a tile industry survey revealed that damage to many roofs during the state's 2004 hurricane season resulted from poor installation....

Good wood.(HOUSE BLENDS: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Wood floors)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Wood floors are increasingly popular with new-home buyers. The NAHB reports that since 2001, about 11 percent of the flooring in new homes is solid wood or engineered wood. Last spring, American manufacturers shipped nearly 57 million board...

Counter measure.(HOUSE BLENDS: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Larger kitchens, bigger baths, and remodeling mania are expected to fuel increased demand for countertop material to the tune of 509 million square feet by the year 2009, according to The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industrial market...

Builder stocks slide: home builder stocks retreat in the second half of 2005.(PUBLIC HOME BUILDERS)
January 1, 2006... THE WILD SWING UPWARD FOR HOME BUILDER stocks has come to an end. The negative news just kept coming for the public home builders late last year. In mid-October, NVR's stock fell 10 percent one day alter the company posted quarterly...

Vision quest: a new Web-based tool makes land acquisitions easier for builders.(INTERNET PICK)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... DIGITAL MAP PRODUCTS (DMP), a Costa Mesa, Calif.-based company that develops Web geographic information system software, says its new LandVision product will help builders with the land acquisition process, from researching acquisition...

Green wheels.(HOUSE BLENDS: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Los Angeles-based Pardee Homes is taking its environmentally friendly philosophy on the road, switching to hybrid autos in "selected field vehicles." As leases come up for renewal on company ears, Pardee is moving to Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs....

Tech check.(HOUSE BLENDS: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)
January 1, 2006... We have seen the home of the future, wired with appliances that talk to each other, and it will bug the crap out of us. In November, Wired.com asked professional futurists about which sexy-sounding technologies won't catch on. Topping the...

Have mercy: a million-dollar grant from Pulte Homes gives Mercy Housing a boost as it approaches its silver anniversary.(NOBLE NONPROFIT)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... MOST NONPROFITS THAT CONSTRUCT AFFORDable housing aren't donor magnets like The Salvation Army or United Way So Pulte Homes' $1 million pledge to Mercy Housing last October was, if anything, noteworthy "Pulte recognized that people with...

Builder shot: shooter claims he acted in self-defense; builder dies from a single gunshot wound.(POLICE BEAT)(Brian Gregory Epp)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A HOME BUILDER IN COBB County, Ga., was fatally shot Tuesday, Dec. 6, after a heated argument with a new homeowner turned ugly. The slain builder was Brian Gregory Epp, 35, of Epp Elevations, based in Powder Springs, Ga. Epp was a home...

Easy does it.(HOUSE BLENDS: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(mortgage loan)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Bank regulators are concerned that obtaining a mortgage loan is becoming a bit too easy, putting everyone from homeowners to certain bond investors at risk. Lenders have grown less demanding about the amount of proof borrowers must provide...

Unclogging the pipeline: nonprofit gives excess building supplies a new lease on life.(CREATIVE PHILANTHROPY)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... WHAT'S A DISTRIBUTOR TO DO WITH 2,000 units of last year's hot faucet model, now lukewarm, or the 1,500 gallons of lavender paint claiming squatters' rights in the warehouse? More than 300 building products companies have found away to move...

Lights, camera, marketing: Builder Homesite debuts television show in Orlando, Fla.(New Home Lifestyles)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... BUILDERS HAVE LONG RECOGnized television's ability to tell compelling stories, but have shied away from it because of the expense. Now, the consortium that created Builder Homesite has pooled its collective resources to produce New Home...

Delta[R] continues to innovate with the multichoice[TM] Universal Valve.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... For over fifty years, Delta Faucet Company has been manufacturing products that enhance the look and functionality of kitchens and baths. From creating the first successful single-handle ball valve design in 1954, to the innovative e-Flow[TM]...

Read our lips: the housing industry stands unified against a tax panel's recommendation to replace the home mortgage interest deduction with a tax credit.(FEDERAL POLICY)
January 1, 2006... BY THE TIME PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAX reform panel issued its recommendations Nov. 1, the housing industry's counteroffensive was well under way Both the NAHB and the National Association of Realtors had devoted sections of their Web sites to...

No kids allowed: new survey of active adult buyers says most want their own space.(housing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... After extensive research reporting that active adult buyers had abandoned the concept of age-qualified communities that prohibit younger residents, a new survey suggests that may be exactly what they want. In the summer of 2005, Mature...

Condo concern: some banks are taking a closer look at their commercial lending practices.(INSIDE STORY)
January 1, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- BASED BANK-Atlantic made its last loan for condo construction nearly two years ago. Speculators in the market, other banks willing to make the loans, and a high proportion of condo loans in its commercial lending...

Under cover.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... FRESH DRYWALL TENDS TO SOAK UP BOLD PAINT COLORS AND ALTER their appearance. That's why it helps to have an undercoat that's designed to handle stronger hues. Gripper Grey primer is such a product. Designed for use under dark and vibrant...

Magic carpet.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... A RANGE HOOD SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE IT BELONGS IN industrial space. The Wall Carpet certainly doesn't. Sporting undulating lines, the unit measures 36 inches wide and comes with a 450-CFM blower and triple-illumination halogen lighting. It...

Ambidextrous.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... WHEN IT COMES TIME TO BUY DOOR hardware, you no longer have to stress over whether your door swings right or left. The Tustin reversible lever has taken the pain out of the process. Part of the company's Maximum Security line, Tustin can be...

Two in one.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... IT USED TO BE THAT YOU COULD HAVE one or the other: a cast-iron classic soaking tub or a whirlpool for relaxation. Not any more. The manufacturer says this tub satisfies both requirements: The 61-inch tub can be used as a traditional soaking...

See no evil.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SMOKE DETECTORS SHOULD BE HEARD (WHEN APPROPRIATE) BUT NOT SEEN. USUALLY, they are both. The FCP-500, however, adds a certain level of stealth to a product that generally has none. Designed for architectural applications where aesthetics are...

Plate tectonics.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... THE MANUFACTURER HAS INTRODUCED THE FASSADA LINE OF stainless steel wallplates to coordinate with its black dimmers, switches, and accessories. The two-piece unit has a small toggle opening, rounded edges, and no visible screws, so home buyers...

Halfway house: this California builder stakes a claim midway between custom and production home building by using the best elements of both.(HYBRID BUILDER)(Structure Development Group)
January 1, 2006... WHAT WOULD YOU GET IF YOU could blend the consistency and control of a production home building operation with the flexibility and customer focus of a custom builder? Structure Development Group in Woodland Hills, Calif., claims to have done...

Eliminating attic vents.(HOUSE CALL)
January 1, 2006... Q: Can unventing and insulating an attic solve interior moisture problems? A: BY CREATING A PATH FOR AIR TO MOVE, structural vents are supposed to prevent the buildup of moisture in an attic. But a vocal group of building scientists says...

Return visit: readers ask our experts for follow-up information.(HOUSE CALL)
January 1, 2006... Q; I'm a computer-aided drafter at United Builders in Yakima, Wash. I'm very interested in the research on closed crawlspaces ("Closing the Crawl," October 2005, page 87). We live and do most of our building in an area that has very cold...

A tale of retooling: HarborView in Port Washington, N.Y., had a lot going for it, but clumsy floor plans and a lackluster marketing strategy got things off to a slow start.(TEAM EFFORT)
January 1, 2006... IF YOU THINK FLOOR PLANS AND A SAVVY marketing strategy don't matter in a hot real estate market, consider the tale of HarborView, an active adult, gated community in Port Washington, N.Y. Here's a project that had everything going for...

It's all about the brands.(CONSUMER TRENDS: The key is knowing what the homebuyer wants.)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... While every new home doesn't always offer custom details, the need for individuality and personal expression is in--especially in the kitchen. People don't want the same commonplace stuff that everyone else has. They want their home to stand...

Under the hood: this Boston lawyer has immersed himself in the details of building science.(LEGAL SLEUTH)
January 1, 2006... DAVID GOVERNO LIKES TO talk about when he was 16 and rebuilt the engine on a 1964 Chevy Bel Air. "I've always liked taking things apart and putting them back together." Today, the 49-year-old Boston attorney has a thriving law practice...

Blending elegance with nature in Colorado.(Keystone Project Profile)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... It's luxury on a grand scale. The owners of a beautiful five-acre property south of Denver had a specific vision for the landscaping on their new property and the tools to make it a reality. Dave Kline of wall contractor CourMeg...

A welcome effect.(FIRST DRAFT)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... GUEST DESIGNER: DAVID KENOYER KDK DESIGN, RALEIGH, N.C. 919-422-7742 Q: How can I spruce up the front elevation of a plain, boxy house to give it more character? A: TURNING A SIMPLE FACADE INTO A SHOW-STOPPER IS OFTEN A MATTER OF...

Wow factor: the Starpointe Residents Club at Estrella Ranch, near Phoenix, is proving its worth beyond the sales pitch.(MARKET SMARTS: NEW MARKETING AND SALES TECHNIQUES WITH PROVEN RESULTS)
January 1, 2006... SURE, A COMMUNITY CENTER ANCHORING YOUR AMENITY package is nearly an essential sales tool, but how many of them actually get used? At Starpointe at Estrella Ranch in Goodyear, Ariz., near Phoenix, the multipurpose Residents Club not only draws...

Park place: joint-use parks help enable Shea Homes to achieve its development goals and foster community activities at RiverPark.(MARKET SMARTS: NEW MARKETING AND SALES TECHNIQUES WITH PROVEN RESULTS)
January 1, 2006... IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE IDEA, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY IT WILL work. At RiverPark, a just-opened, 702-acre, 2,800-home, mixed-use community in Oxnard, Calif., the grounds serving the two elementary schools and one middle school planned for the...

Giving back: a six-figure donation to build a YMCA helps establish Hubble Homes as a pillar of the community.(MARKET SMARTS: NEW MARKETING AND SALES TECHNIQUES WITH PROVEN RESULTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... BUILDERS AND DEVELOPers always talk about "giving back to the community," but Hubble Homes, a Nampa, Idaho-based developer and builder, put that mantra into motion with a $100,000 donation toward the construction of a new, 50,000-square-foot...

Aftershocks: housing markets where hurricane evacuees settled continue to feel the storms' effects.(VITAL SIGNS)
January 1, 2006... LAST YEAR'S GULF COAST HURRICANES displaced upward of I million people, many of whom sought temporary shelter in Baton Rouge, La., and Houston. As the months have passed and uncertainty about rebuilding on the coast remains, thousands are...

More control, better communications, and increased productivity--all on schedule: Hyphen Solutions brings schedule management into the 21st century.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Today's large homebuilders employ hundreds, perhaps thousands of superintendents in multiple cities and multiple locations. These superintendents, in turn, are each tasked with managing the building schedules of hundreds of suppliers &...

Solar flair.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... SOLAR FLAIR: Solar Block Plus is an acrylic block with a nonmetallic tint that produces a smoky color. The manufacturer says the result is a product that is more energy-efficient than regular glass or acrylic products. It is available in clear...

Bug block.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... BUG BLOCK: The 6-inch Impasse termite blocker now allows home builders to offer pre-construction termite protection for foundations where 6-inch PVC pipes go through the slab, the manufacturer says. The product is an effective solution that...

Eye candy: the International Builders' Show is the perfect place to spot the next labor-saving or jaw-dropping product.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... WELCOME TO WHAT IS ARGUABLY the single most important event in the home building industry--the International Builders' Show (IBS). In addition to the general spirit of camaraderie, people come to learn business strategies and marketing tips and...

Pod jobs.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... POD JOBS: The jobsite just got hipper, thanks to the new Power Box jobsite entertainment radio with a docking station for an iPod music player. The new dock plugs directly into the Power Box's 12-volt auxiliary outlet and 3.5-millimeter input...

Line judge.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... LINE JUDGE: The SpeedMeter electronic measuring wheel is available in 4-inch and 13-inch wheel sizes to accommodate almost any job situation, the manufacturer says. It has an LCD display with selectable backlight, an electronic brake that holds...

Rock on.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... ROCK ON: Durock-brand mortars, mastics, grouts, and accessories are designed for use with the company's cement board and Fiberock Aqua-Tough tile backer board. The four latex-modified mortars are intended to address most ceramic tile...

Door store.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... DOOR STORE: Made from 25-gauge stamped steel, Oak Summit Collection garage doors feature a carriage-house appearance with a bead-board profile. The four-section unit has a centerline that gives it the appearance of an out-swing garage door, and...

Roof toppings.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... ROOF TOPPINGS: Inspire synthetic slate roofing is made of 50 percent resin and 50 percent natural materials. It has six edge and surface designs, a Class A fire rating, and resists winds up to 110 miles per hour. The company says the product...

New view.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... NEW VIEW: Insight windows are made with cellular composite technology, so they have the appearance of wood and the durability of vinyl. Free of weather-related problems such as rotting and warping, the windows have better thermal properties,...

Ride the rails.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... RIDE THE RAILS: RadianceRail offers the attractiveness of white vinyl railing but provides the structural feel of a wood product, says the manufacturer. Made of a precision-engineered composite and capped with vinyl, the product has no exposed...

Natural by design.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... NATURAL BY DESIGN: Natural Fusion resilient vinyl flooring comes in popular looks such as bamboo, stone, and exotic wood. Available in 35 versions, the flooring is made using a technology that yields realistic textures and gloss for a natural...

Clean lines.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... CLEAN LINES: Designed for transitional interiors, the Trinity Collection offers the simple, sweeping, minimalist forms that are popular at the moment. The lights come with or without etched-glass shades and in brushed nickel, polished brass,...

Arch find.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... ARCH FIND: The Madison Arch door style features detailed door- and drawer-front edges with a raised center panel and an eyebrow arch in a full maple overlay. The style will be offered in five standard and 17 specialty finishes, including...

Fingertip control.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... FINGERTIP CONTROL: This new TPI-ID touchpad employs capacitive technology, allowing homeowners to use just one unit for multiple configurations, the company says. Capacitive technology allows the unit to react to and execute commands with a...

Ratchet up.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... RATCHET UP: The Sheerline ratcheting base trim can be adjusted to fit 4-inch and 6-inch posts, the manufacturer says. Designed to be used with the company's Sheerline posts, the trim easily locks into place and has no visible screw tabs. It is...

Go with the grain.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... GO WITH THE GRAIN: The company's two new railing systems complement its EverGrain composite decking products. Made of a wood composite, the railings are low maintenance and come in colors to match the decking products. The traditional 2x4...

Color theory.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... COLOR THEORY: Two new color blends have been added to the manufacturer's line of residential bricks for home exteriors, fireplaces, paving, and more: Prairie Gray and Plum Creek. Plum Creek features a heavily mortar-smeared face on an old-red...

Edges of reason.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... EDGES OF REASON: These square-edged Traditional balusters look like ordinary products, but they are made of metal, so they offer some maintenance advantages. Measuring 1 inch by 1/2 inch and 32 inches long, the products are made of...

Wood-looking.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... WOOD-LOOKING: Providence Collection is a new line of veneer moldings that has all the benefits of wood at a more reasonable price, the manufacturer says. The product consists of real oak veneer over a polymer substrate, so it looks and works...

Designer line.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... DESIGNER LINE: Part of the manufacturer's Designer Collection, these four new solid-surface products feature colors and patterns that emulate natural materials. They include Quarry Palisade, Quarry Bluff, Breccia Bisque, and Breccia Rio Grande....

Counter fit.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
January 1, 2006... COUNTER FIT: The manufacturer says its two-part countertop system creates a surface that eliminates the need for caulking. The Ditra universal underlayment serves as an uncoupling layer between the wood substrate and tiles, while a Kerdi-Band...

Hardibacker[R]: cement board with Moldblock[TM] protection.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)
January 1, 2006... Moisture-Resistant Gypsum Board (Greenboard) No Longer Recognized by IRC It's now official. The International Residential Code" (Section R702.4.4, 2004 Supplement to IRC) no longer recognizes moisture-resistant gypsum backing board...

Seattle area gets HIP: Washington builders pioneer a new home automation system that runs most standard home applications over a wireless infrastructure.(DIGITAL HOME: SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW HOMES)
January 1, 2006... THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER WIREless will one day eliminate the need for structured wiring has for years ended with some major sticking points--first and foremost that there are no wireless systems that can reliably run high-definition (HD) video....

Slick kit.(DIGITAL HOME: SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW HOMES)
January 1, 2006... The Xtreme Digital Music System from M&S Systems, the XDM4600, offers the slickness of a distributed audio system with the convenience of standard intercom features such as baby monitoring and the ability to speak from any keypad when the...

Digital trends.(Digital Entertainment: Changing consumer habits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Home-tech researchers Parks Associates reports that the hottest products and services are portable media players, enhanced television services such as picture-in-picture and instant channel changing, and mobile telephones with enhanced features...

New focus.(Constellation HomeBuilder Systems acquires Dimensional Basix )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Constellation HomeBuilder Systems recently purchased business intelligence company Dimensional Basix (DBx). Dexter Salna, Constellation's president, says the move was made to better serve NewStar users, since NewStar lacked enhanced management...

Triple dip.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)
January 1, 2006... Home builder software company Latista has introduced BuilderOne Enterprise Resource Planning. The system will consist of three modules: customer relationship management (CRM), the sales system; operations, which covers options, purchasing, and...

A single network: John Wieland uses BellSouth to unify its network throughout the Southeast.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)
January 1, 2006... HARD AS IT MAY BE TO BELIEVE, IT'S REALLY possible for a home builder to mesh perfectly with a telecom service provider. Such is the case with Atlanta-based John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods and BellSouth, in which the builder hired the...

Material cause.(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... NAHB members who wish to donate materials or products to help the rebuilding effort in the Gulf Coast are encouraged to join the NAHB's industry-wide effort to make their donations through Gifts In Kind International. Gifts In Kind's...

Hoosier homes.(affordable housing market)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... For the third quarter of 2005, Indianapolis was the nation's most affordable housing market among major metros with populations over 500,000, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). In Indianapolis, 89.7 percent of...

A look back: hurricanes, tax reform, Bill O'Reilly--it's been a tough year for the housing industry. But we've shown remarkable strength and unity in the face of it all.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
January 1, 2006... SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE NAHB IN 2005 was truly the experience of a lifetime. I had the honor of leading one of the most effective trade associations in the nation, and I saw firsthand our industry's overwhelming compassion, our ability to...

Wrong approach: the recommendations of the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform would decimate housing.(SEIDERS ECONOMY)
January 1, 2006... THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY PANEL ON FEDeral Tax Reform released its final report on Nov. 1, 2005. The recommendations, if enacted, would wreak havoc on the housing sector by cutting or eliminating current tax incentives for primary residences,...

Fields of brown.(liability protection rules for property purchasers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... In November, the EPA issued a final ruling that will provide crucial liability protection for those looking to rehabilitate and redevelop brownfields. The rule also establishes a new commercially accepted method for conducting due diligence in...

EVHA-ready: the 2006 Energy Value Housing Awards honor energy-conscious builders.(THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER CORNER)
January 1, 2006... AS ENERGY COSTS CONTINUE to rise, consumers are looking for new techniques to help them reduce their energy consumption and lower their utility bills. In response to their customers' concerns, more of today's home builders are incorporating...

Legal action.(Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The NAHB has filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the petitioners in two wetlands cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The issue in both cases concerns whether and when...

Mentorship drive: new NAHB president David Pressly Jr. will shine a spotlight on the association's role as mentor.(National Association of Home Builders )
January 1, 2006... IF IT WEREN'T FOR A FEW PUSHY FOLKS in his life--including the lumber dealer who relentlessly nagged him to join the local HBA and the city councilman who pestered him to run for mayor--David J. Pressly Jr. wouldn't be where he is today. "I am...

Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities.
January 1, 2006... Break the Mold The Vineyard, Norman, Okla. WHY IT WORKED: A preponderance of brick, shoebox-style housing in the Oklahoma City area made this first-of-its-kind New England-concept neighborhood an instant standout. * The community...